TxDOT leveraged improved credit ratings and favorable market conditions to refinance $810.3 million of outstanding debt used to fund the Central Texas Turnpike System (CTTS) around Austin.

$200 million (over the life of the bonds)

Finance

Use of Design-Build Strategies

The $1.1 billion DFW Connector project in Grapevine will be substantially completed in summer 2013 after four years, instead of the eight- to 10-year original estimate. Contracting with one developer to integrate design and construction offered the flexibility of design adjustments during the construction phase.

The Design-Build approach also eliminated the time-consuming step of bidding and contracting the construction phase after the design is complete.

Dalton Pratt, a regional fleet manager in TxDOT's North Region Office, identified $2 million in cost savings by suggesting TxDOT stop using a special color of paint called Federal Yellow for its heavy equipment fleet.